Michael van Gerwen will begin his defence of the BoyleSports World Grand Prix title against Josh Rock in a mouth-watering first round tussle, with the draw and schedule for next week’s event now confirmed.
Van Gerwen, who lifted his sixth World Grand Prix title in 2022, will open his challenge against World Youth Champion Rock – one of three debutants in this year’s 32-player field.
The draw for the unique double-start event, which will be played at Leicester’s Morningside Arena from October 2-8, also pits 2020 champion Gerwyn Price against Dutch number two Danny Noppert.
World Champion Michael Smith begins his bid for a maiden World Grand Prix crown against a resurgent Callan Rydz, who won his third Players Championship title earlier this month.
Third seed Peter Wright will play German number one Gabriel Clemens in his opener, with World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall pitted against two-time World Grand Prix semi-finalist Stephen Bunting.
Sixth seed Luke Humphries will meet 2017 champion Daryl Gurney in another intriguing tie, while 2021 champion Jonny Clayton takes on European Champion Ross Smith for a place in round two.
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2018 World Champion Rob Cross kicks off his campaign against UK Open winner Andrew Gilding, with Dimitri Van den Bergh and Masters champion Chris Dobey set to collide in a battle of Premier League stars.
Former finalists Dirk van Duijvenbode and Brendan Dolan also lock horns for a place in round two, as two-time champion James Wade faces a revitalised Krzysztof Ratajski in another tasty tie.
Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson – a World Grand Prix runner-up in 2016 – plays Portugal’s former Grand Slam winner Jose de Sousa, as the popular Scot eyes a return to winning ways on the big stage.
Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld – a finalist in 2008 and 2009 – makes his return to the double-start event following a five-year hiatus as he faces German star Martin Schindler in round one.
Elsewhere, Sunday’s Hungarian Darts Trophy winner Dave Chisnall takes on Luke Woodhouse, who sealed his qualification in last-gasp fashion with a run to the quarter-finals in Budapest.
Australian number one Damon Heta plays Ryan Searle, while Joe Cullen and Mike De Decker renew their rivalry in a repeat of their clash at the World Matchplay in July.
The BoyleSports World Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
Tickets for the BoyleSports World Grand Prix are still available through pdc.seetickets.com.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
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